Scotland's Gavin Rumgay on Commonwealth Games and his tennis days with Andy Murray

07 Jan 2017

The next Commonwealth Games are set to be hosted in 2018 on the Gold Coast in Australia, and one of the players hoping to compete at the event next year is Scotland's Gavin Rumgay.

Gavin Rumgay will be sure to put on a show on day one of qualifications for the ITTF Challenge Thailand Open. (Photo: Paul Devlin)

by Simon Daish

Many table tennis fans may remember Gavin Rumgay for his trademark ‘Rumgay Wedgie’ otherwise known as the ‘Do the Rumgay’. Rumgay’s celebration at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games ended up going viral on the internet and across social media platforms following his comeback victory over Pierre-Luc Thériault in Scotland’s Men’s Team event win over Canada.

However, despite a positive showing from Rumgay and his fellow compatriots at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Scotland player stated in an interview with The Courier that he isn’t certain as to whether he will have the chance to repeat his famous celebration on the Gold Coast in 2018.

“They want guys to travel who will be winning medals. We’re ranked seventh just now. So it’s a big incentive to move up the rankings. 2018 will come round quickly. Singapore, England and India are the top three nations. After that it’s pretty open between four to eight.” – Gavin Rumgay.

The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games proved to be a special occasion for Rumgay as the competition visited his home country and while there may be some doubt about a possible appearance at the 2018 Games, Rumgay believes that if given the chance that he could go far in the Men’s Singles category.

“A home Games a couple of years ago was a real buzz. From a personal point of view I got a lot of business after it as well. I would like to think I’d have a chance of a medal in the singles if we get there (in 2018). The team event is more difficult.” – Gavin Rumgay.

Rumgay is also well-versed when it comes to other racquet sports, especially tennis, having taken on the likes of Andy and Jamie Murray as a junior.

Andy Murray may have won three Tennis Grand Slams so far in his professional career, but Gavin Rumgay remembers a time when he was able to defeat the Tennis superstar.

“I played with Andy and Jamie up to the age of about 15. He was a couple of years younger but at 13 he was probably taller than me. I beat him a few times. I was number one, Jamie was two and Andy was three… At the Commonwealth Games in Delhi I chatted with Jamie a couple of times in the food hall and we reminisced about the good old days. He told me that Andy still remembers all those matches we played when we were young. Hopefully our paths will cross again.” – Gavin Rumgay.